Enhanced photocatalytic activity of nanoporous BiVO4/MCM-41 co-joined nanocomposites for solar energy conversion and environmental pollution abatement

BiVO4/MCM-41 nanocomposite photocatalysts were prepared by hydrothermal reaction taking bismuth nitrate and ammonium vanadate as precursors. Different wt% of BiVO4 (2.5, 5 and 10 wt%) have been loaded on nanoporous MCM-41 supports and also the hydrothermal synthetic time has been varied to design a series of photocatalysts. XRD suggests well formation of crystalline BiVO4, TEM confirms small sized BiVO4 nanocrystals uniformly distributed on nanoporous MCM-41 support, UV-vis DRS and PL indicates red shift and lower recombination of BM nanocomposites. The photocatalytic water splitting to generate O2 and toxic organic dye (Rh 6G) degradation studies have been evaluated using these efficient nanocomposite photocatalysts. 5 wt% BiVO4/MCM-41@4 h (BM-4) catalyst shows the best results in both O2 generation (691.3 μmol in 4 h) and 98% of Rhodamine 6G degradation respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity may be attributed to nanoporous architecture, quantum size of BiVO4, high surface area, better light harvestation and electron transfer.